Green encrusting monti, strange polyps (id)

[Logzor]

Picked this up, it is a decent size piece but needs to heal up some. It was under very weak lighting so I expect it to change color a bit.

Any ideas what species this is?

 

[Logzor]

Anyone have a clue?

I will take a better picture when it colors up and the polyps come out. There are a few out on the other side of the coral, the part I could get into focus is not in the best shape.

 

[vangogh121]

how about cyphastrea sp. This is just a guess though

 

[Logzor]

Those appear to be a close match. Does this mean it is not a monti at all?

The shape of the polyps (and their bases) are much different than montis and do match those of cyphastrea sp.

 

[Kolognekoral]

Absolutely not a Montipora. Cyphastrea may be correct, as it certainly looks to be a Favid. Astreopora may be possible, too. It needs to settle in a bit and plump-up!

 

[Logzor]

Yeah what you see is about 1/3 of the actual coverage. The other parts are in better shape. It came from the fish store under some weak VHO bulbs and very low flow.

Give it a month and this thing will be lookin great.

I would say total encrusting is about 6-7 sq. inches. Got it for 30 bucks.

How is this species different from a monti regarding light, flow, and feeding? Is it rare or did I get ripped off?

I know it is kind of beat up but I have been very sucessful with bringing brown corals back to their former glory.

I noticed that the base is somewhat redish. I am not sure if that is due to a health issue. I am guessing it will all turn a nice green color.

 

[Kolognekoral]

The price was certainly right! One doesn't see them very often, not that they are rare in the reef, just not easy to harvest. They like good light and relatively weak current, like Favia and Monastrea. Don't place it too high, actually, I would place it on the bottom.

 

[Logzor]

Good. I have it on the bottom right now so I could acclimate.

It gets medium flow and some polyps were coming out a day after being in my tank.

I will post new pics in a week or two.

 

[Lagger]

Pavona Maldivensis

 

[Logzor]

Yep! That is it.

Are these coral rare? The place that I got it from had another that was orange for about the same price, only a larger frag.

 

[Kolognekoral]

I don't think that can be a Pavona. It lacks the paralell reticulate coenosteum. If you can get a more detailed foto, maybe that can be seen.